Vacuum sweeper



May l, 1928'. 1,668,035 c. AALBoRG vAcuuuv swEEPER I Filed Ju1y20. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/:g rfc .312 14g /46 4g a7 36 '/33 jJ \x Y .f1

` l- L.: c l 30 :Nv-Enron Chris/'ah Aa/barg WITNESS'ES:

BY WM ATTORNEY Patented" May -1, 192s.

GHRISTIAN AALBORG, Ol' IITTSBUBGH, Ymmvm applicati@ nle'a my zo, 192s. smal No. enen.

My invention 'relates to suction sweepers, and it has special relation to sweepers of the portable type.

One object of the invention is to provide a portable, bagless, suction sweeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction sweeper in which the current of air is circulated continuously in one substantially close path.

Another object of the invention to prof vide a power-operated suction sweeper of the above-indicated character having the air cleaning devices disposed entirely. within the casing of the sweeper.

A further object of the inventionvis to' provide a suction sweeper with a dust receptacle positioned within the casing of the sweeper and detachable therefrom.

A still further object of ythe invention is to provide a novel `construction of filter to which dust and lint doeslnot adhere andv which cannot become clogged.

vention, a fan draws air through a suction nozzle into a casing and forces it through a convex filter made of wire screen superimposed upona layer of fiber cloth. The air is then forced through a discharge nozzle adiacent to the suction nozzle. A. rotating brush is located' in the discharge nozzle. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a suction sweeper embodying the invention, parts being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the suction sweeper showing the motor housing or dome in side elevation; v

Fig. 3 -is a transverse section on the line III-III of Fig. 1; y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of'the closure disc-and the adjacent portion of the hood showing partition'walls partly in section; y v A Fig. 5 'is a detail of a bearing for the brush; Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of parts of the brush control mechanism:

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a device for sup porting and adjusting the position of a gear housing;

4housing the operating Fig. 9 is a detail of a latch and cooperatinparts for securing the pair to the hood;

1 s. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are detail views of the rush-driving mechanism and control means therefor; Y

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the dust pan removed from the casing;

Fig. 15 is an end-'elevational view of the Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the pan; and

Fig. 17 is a view in vertical longitudinal sectlon 'through the pan. Y

Referring to Figs. land 2, a hood 10, a pan 11 and a dome 12 constitute a casing for arts of a suction sweeper, the assembly being such that a low `casing may be used, that is to say, low with respect to the large stationary types of vacuum cleaners. The hood is substantially rectangular in plan view and is supported by rollers 5,4 each mounted for rotation within In theillustrated embodiment of my ina corner of the hood. The bottom of the hood terminates in an edge lying almost in a horizontal plane. The top wall 13 of the hood is somewhat flat but merges. by gradual curves. with the side walls. The front wall 14 extends downwardly to a point im mediately'adjacent to the surface on which the rollers 5 travel in the cleaning operat1on,

r and is formed at its end into a lip 15, spaced slightly from a partition 16. which extends upwardly and interiorly of the hood substantially parallel with the front wall 14 to form a suction nozzle.

The sidel walls 17 and 18'of the hood 10 are formed integral with the front wall 14 and the partition 16 and together therewith constitute an intake chamber 20. Where front wall 14 merges with top wall lthe vpartition 116 is correspondingly curved but spaced from the front wall to provide room for a suicient volume of incomlng air. The partition 16 extends rearwardly for a considerable distance,y the intake compartment being bounded on the sides by vertical walls 21 and 22 which converge from the front corners of the hood 10 to. points centrally thereof. In this area, the intake chamber is restricted to a comparatively narrow lwe l throat 23 formed by topwailil, vertical partition walls 24 and 25 and bottom wall 26. The bottom wall 26 has a longitudinal opening 27 therein closed by a plate 28 secured in position by screws 29, directed into the bottom wall.

A pair of cup-like extensions 30 are formed at the 'front corners of the hood,

extending laterally therefrom, thus broadening the suction nozzle. A brush compartment 31 is provided immediately rearwardly of artition 16 for the reception of a pair o axially aligned brushes 32 and 33. The outer end of brush 33 is received in a errule 136 from which projects a stud 137 that is journaled in a caring 34. The outer end of brush 32 is received in a ferrule 138, from which a stud 139 projects journaled in a bearing 35.

YGn one side of the axis of the brush, a short screw 140 is threaded in bearing 35 from which it extends upwardly until it engages a lug 141 depending from the hood 10, as best shown in Fig. 5. The bearing 35 hast'an opening therein, forwardly iofthe axis of the brush, in which a long screw 142 is slidably fitted, the screw being threaded in a lug 143. By giving the long screw 142 a left hand turn and then giving short screw 140 a right hand turn, the bearing 35 may be lowered. By reversing the ad]ustments of the screws, 142 and 140 the bearing 35.

may be raised thus varying the vertical position of the brush. A finger 144 on the bearing 35 engages lug 143 and limits the upward adjustment of the bearing. Ihe bearing 34 is similar in construction and adjustment. l

, A ferrule 36 receives the inner end of brush 33 to which it is rigidly connected. A sleeve 37 projects inwardly from the fer rule 36 and is secured by a pin 38 to a stud 39 on a spiral gear 40. The spiral gear 40 Vis housed in a trough 41 provided with an end closure 42 which serves as a bearing for stud 39. Brush 32 is operatively connected to the spiral gear by a ferrule 145, a sleeve 146 thereon, a pin 147 and a stud v148 c rigid with the spiral gear 40 and journaled in the trough 41 as .a bearing. Spiral gear 40 meshes with spiral ar 43, rigid with short shaft 44 mount for rotation in 'a horizontal housing 45 which at its front end is formed into an" enlargement 46 closed by a cap 47. Cap 47 prevents forward movement of shaft The housing 45 is integral with trough 41, which depends therefrom. A horizontal Alug 149 is formed on the front of the trough Y and has smooth openings 150 and 151 therein and a tappedvopenin'g 152 best shown in Fig. 8. A screw 153 is received in opening Y152 and-'rests atits upper end against an 156 are 'received in openings 150 and 151 respectively, and are threaded into abutment 154. By loosening' screws 155 and`156 and tightening screws 153, the lug 149 is secured 1n a lowered position. The lug may be secured in raised position in an obvious manner.

A partition 157 separates the throat 23 from the brush compartment 3l und is provided lwith a slot, same to receive the housing 45. Packing 158 between enlargement 46 and partition 157 seals throat 23 from the brush compartment 31.

Short shaft 44 is formed into afemale clutch member 48, adapted to receive a male clutch member 49 on a long shaft section-50. The shaft section 50 is formed into an anvnular rack 51 with which pinion 52 meshes. The pinion 52 is rotatable in a bearing` 53, formed on the housing 45, andhas a race 54 thereon for receivingthe end of a flanges, and leaf spring 62 is carried by astud 63 proiecting through an'openlng 1n a depending support 64.1011 closure disc 65 (Fig. 3). The lower faire of the support 64 has stops 66 and 67 thereon for limiting the movement of plate 62 which is controlled manually by means of a knurled knob 68 p from which the stud 63 depends.

The top wall 13 of the hood 10 has a circular opening therein bounded by an annular shoulder 70 on which closure disc 65 rests.

A shoulder 71 is provided on closure disc 65 and rests against shoulder 70. Fastening plates 72 and 73 retain the closure disc in position.

Slots V74 and 75 are provided iii the top wall 13 to permit the assembling of the disc which .is accomplished by inserting finger 6l 'between anges 58 and 60 moving plates 72 and 73 through slots 74 and 75 and rotating the closure to lace the platesv 72 and 73 beneath the shouider 70. y

The shaft section 50 carries a worm. gear 80 at its rear end, the horizontal housing- 45 being enlarged to form a chamber 81 for the reception of the worm'gear. A cap 82 -is threaded in the rear end of the housing.

The worm gear 80 is spaced foiWardl l on' the chamber 81 and the compartment 1s of i such size as to permit rearward lnoveinent of the Vworm gear to a position wherein 1t is ont of engagement with a womit 83 with which it normally meshes.

The longitudinal housing 45 has a cup 84, formed thereon for the reception of thev iis Leemans lower end of worm 83, whichv holds the worm in mesh with wormv wheel 80.

Worm 83 is Aformed on a drive shaft 85 rotated by the motor 86q which is enclosed by dome 12. The shaft is journaled for rotation in a bearing l87 on a bell-shaped bear ing bracket 88 having a plurality of openings 90 therein for the admission of air to-v blades 93, downwardly directed therefrom.

. the longitudinal housin The hoo-d 10 is substantially flat but carries an extension 94 having an opening therein for receiving a shoulder 95 on the dome 12. A flange 96 outwardly directed from the dome 12 rests on the edge of the hood so that the shoulder and the flange cooperate with,1

the edge of the hood. Screws 97 retain the dome 12 in position. Screws 98 are also provided for securing bracket 88 to dome 12.

A handle 100, bifurcate'd to form arms 101 which extend on opposite sides of dome 1-2, is pivoted to the hood.- Thehiandle is provided with electrical terminals constructed as illustrated and described in my Patent No. 1,576,701 issued March 16, 1926.

The hood 10 is provided with an inwardly, rearwardly and downwardly directed flange 102, which overlies the throat 23 and is disposed immediately below the fan 91.

Bottom wall 26, is provided also with a downwardly and rearwardly directed flange 103, which is spaced forwardly a slight distance from the rear wall 104, of the hood. A tubular support is formed on the bottom wall 26 -and receives pin 106 to hold lug 107 rigidlyin .osition on the tubular support. The lug '10 is integral with cup 84, so that 45 is, at its. lower end, rigid with the hoo The pan 11 is substantially fiat and is provided with longitudinal flanges and 111 and a transverse flange 112 (Figs. 15, 16 and 17). The flanges rest againstva shoulder 113 formed adjacent the lower edge ofthe hood 10. Suitable packing 114 is interposed between vthe flanges and the shoulder. YA depending lip 115 is provided on the 'hood downwardly directed from the shoulder.

The pan 11 is eut awayat the lower corners so as to fit into the hood 10 inwardly of therollers 5 provided at these places. A longitudinal upwardly extending rib 116 is formed onthe pan 11 and spaced inwardly from flange 110. `A similar rib 117 is spaced inwardly of rib 116`and is of eater height than rib 116. Spaced from 11g? is a. rib 118v of substantially the same hei ht as. rib 116. A central rib 120 is provide which is still lower than rib 118. Ribs 121, 122 and 123 are spaced in series from rib 120, being substantially equal in height to ribs 116,117 and 118. Stretched over the pan 1l and secured to flanges 110, 111 and 112 is a she'et 124 of fiber cloth u )on which a wire screen '125 ,is superimpose The fiber sheet and wire screen constitute an ai'r filter and are maintained in position by means of screws 126 extending into the flanges and ribs of the pan. f

Between flanges 1,10 and rib 120, the filter is bulged by reason of the .height of rib 117. nach of the ribs 11e, 117, 11s, 12o, 121, 12e and 123 is peaked centrally and inclining downwardly towards its end. The shape of cach lof the ribs tends further to impart a bulge to the filter centrally of each of the-two areas of the filter between rib 120 and flanges 110 and 111'. As rib 120 is low, the filter is relatively flat notwithstanding the bulges therein. This arrangement makes for com- A pactness.

Thev pan 11 is formed into a downwardly and forwardly directed lip 127 positioned immediately adjacent to the brush 32 the arrangement constituting. a discharge nozzle. Adjacent to the nozzle is a transverse partition 128 (Fig. 1) which is one of the walls defining the brush compartment 31.

A strip of rubber 129 is disposed in a. recess 130 in each ofthe ribs and extends transversely Vof the entire pan being secured thereto and contacting on its upper surface with the partition 128 and also passing transversely of and in engagement with bottom wall 26' of throat 23. 4

Pan 11 is detachably secured to the hood 10 by a pair of latches, shown in detail of Fig. 9. Each latch comprises a hook formed on the pan, a lever 161 pivoted on the hood, and a wire loop 162 running through -an opening in the lever and extending over the hopk as the pivot point of the lever is exterior of a line running between the points of contact of the loop with the hood and the lever the tendency of the loop to contract retains the latch in operative posit-lon.

In the operation of the device, 'the sweeper 'is pushed over the surface to be cleaned, by

means of handle 100, and dust is drawn by thefan 91v through thesuction nozzle into the intake compartment 20, whence it passes into the restricted throatA 23. In the travel of the air through this distance it does not encounter kany of the operative parts of the device.

From theV throaty 23, the air is drawn rear` wardly andis then forced downwardly beyond flange 103 and near the rear wall 104 of the hood 10. The rotation of the fan causes an air circulation through the'apertures 90 in the bearing support 88 for cool- IIN) ing of the motor.86. The rotation of shaft 85 also operates, through worm 83 and worm gear 80, to rotate the longitudinal shaft comprising sections 44 and 50, and spiral gears -13 to drive the brushes 32 and 33.

At times, it may be desirable to disconnect the brushes when only suction action is desired. The brushes may be disconnected from the motor by turning knurled knob 68, manually, to move leaf spring 62 andfinger 61'. Enga-gement of the finger 61 with flanges 60 on arm 57 of disc 56 results in the turning of pinion 52 which operates on rack part a convex sha cloth is not permitted at any place to `sag 51 to vmove shaft section 50 rearwardly, thereby sliding male clutch member 49 from female clutch member 48 but not disengaging the clutch members. In the retracted posit-ion of shaft sect-ion 50, power is not transniitted to the brush 32 as the worin gear 80 is out `of mesh with the worm 83. If desired, closure disc may then be removed from top wall 13 of the-hood and an auxiliary suction device which is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 719,703 liled Ju-ne 13, 1924 may be secured in the opening. l

After the air passes the fan 91, it is forced downwardly, as described, adjacent to the lower wall 104 of the hood 10 and spreads out over the filter. The dust encounters the wire screen' of' the filter and is separated thereby from the air, the cleaned air passing forwardly among the ribs of the pan. The dust and lint are not in immediate contact with the fiber cloth but rest upon the wire vscreen from which they are more easily removed as they do not adhere as tenaciously to the metal. The dust and lint is not disposed between the wire screen and the sheet of fiber clothv as the ribs support tliecloth lin intimate cont-act wit-h the screen and imto the filter. The fiber below the wire screen.

The pan 11 does not communicate with throat 23 at any point except adjacent to fan 91 and flange 103 whereby the air is forced outwardly from the pan in a. vpurified condition because of the laction of the filter.

The brush 32' is in the path of travel of the discharged air whichv removes the lint and dirttlierefrom. The dirt removed from the brush is not permitted -to escape from the eas'ng but is forced forwardlyby the air passing beyond the discharge' nozzleV 127. and into the suction nozzle, thus creating a continuous circulation of airl through the' machine. V

The dirt and dust removed from the air is deposited on'the filter which has a large substantially horizontal rea and. considerable ca acity so that it does not readily become c ogged. The rib- V120 being lower than the 'adjacent ribs divides the filter into two convex portions. Making the rib- 120 relatively, low does not militate against the advantageous functioning of the convex arrangement of the filter but tends to further conserve space and renders the device more compact since there is econom of room that would be taken up if the ri 120 were of greater altitude.

The pan 11 may be readily detached from the hood, as described above, to permit dust and dirt to be removed from the filter and pan, which is replaced in the hood when cleaned.

The fiatness ofthe hood and casing facilitates the utilization of the sweeper in comparatively inaccessible places and the euplike extensions 30 may be readily inserted into corners.

The invention may be embodied in other constructions than that illustrated and def scribed and extensively modified. A silbstantial range ofequivalents is contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a Suction cleaner, the combination of a casing having a suction opening and a discharge opening therein and adapted for movement over an article to be cleaned, means for drawing air through 'said suction opening and discharging it through said discharge opening, a sheet of fiber cloth, a wire screen contiguous to said fiber cloth, said fiber cloth and said screen being disposed in the path ef travel of the air, and means for retaining said cloth contiguous to sad screen irrespective of the action of theV air.

2. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing having a suction'fopening and a discharge opening therei'ian'd adapted. for movement over an article to be cleaned, means for drawing air through said suction o ening and forcing it through said disc arge opening, ash tof fiber material, a wire screen thereabov continguous thereto, and means supporting said material and said vscreen hin the path of travel of the air and with the central portion of the material and screen bulged upwardly on the side towards which the air approaches.

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a 'casing having an opening therein and adapted for movement over an article to be cleaned, means for drawing air through said opening, a panserving as a lower rtion of said casing, a sheet of fiber clot a. wire screen superim d upon said sheet, means supporting sai sheet and screen in the path of travel ofthe air with the wire screen dis- -posedon the side of -said sheet from which the air approaches, and ribs on said pan `supporting said sheet and' said screen andy extending in the vdirection'from which a'r .approaches said sheet and said wire screen.

llo.

cleaned, means for drawing air through Said opening, a sheet of fiber material, a wire screen contiguous to said sheet, means supporting said sheet and said Wire screen in the path ot' travel of the air, av pan serving as the llower portionof said casing on the lower sidev thereof, and ribs on said pan hi `her in their central portions than at their ends and imparting a bulgeto said sheet and said screen in the direction from `which, the air approaches said screen. y

5. A suction cleaner comprising in combination a casing having one Wall shaped to serve as a. front, said casingl being .provided with a suction opening located near the front of the casing and a. discharge opening, means vfor circulating air through the openings, a

brush disposed .in the rear of the suction opening to cooperate with the air circulating means in cleaning operations and means for cleansing the air as it passes' from the suction openingr to the discharge opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 12th day of July,

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. 

